Up Close and Personal on the Board: Jim Michaud

UP CLOSE &

PERSONAL On the Board

Welcome to Up Close and Personal is designed to give readers a closer look at NHMA board members. In this issue, we hope you enjoy meeting one of our newest board members, Jim Michaud, Chief Assessor in Hudson. Jim was elected this November to serve on NHMA’s board of directors. Jim is also the honorable recipient of NHMA’s Russ Marcoux Municipal Advocate of the Year award in 2012.

Jim Michaud

TC: What are your duties and responsibilities as Chief Assessor?

JM: As Chief Assessor for the Town of Hudson the duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to; appraising and/or supervising the appraisal of residential, commercial, industrial, public utility property; performing or supervising the performance of field measurements and inspections of residential, commercial, industrial and other buildings and structures including alterations, renovations and demolition as necessary and appropriate, in order to maintain a uniform, full market value on all property; inspect land and land changes resulting from map changes, transfers of deeds, subdivision changes, etc; oversees Town-wide revaluing of property to full market value at a minimum of every five years; correlate data and complete annual reports of final assessed values (DRA’s MS1) as well as the State’s annual property assessment equalization process.

TC: What is your biggest challenge in performing your duties?

JM: One of the most significant challenges for assessing officials manifests itself in explaining to taxpayers that it is the appropriations and budgetary processes (State, municipal, school, county) that is the main driver of property taxes; that the assessed value is utilized as an allocation of what each property owner’s property tax responsibility is.

TC: How has NHMA helped you to do your job?

JM: Where do I begin! Namely, NHMA is instrumental in leveraging its skill sets, most of the time as a cohort with municipal assessing officials, in the legislative arena when it comes to the never-ending bills that tinker, and more, with the property assessment and property taxation process in this great state. NHMA is also of significant guidance to assessing officials when significant judicial decisions portend needed legislatives solutions, as well as NHMA’s numerous resources that provide for well-rounded knowledge of local and state governmental processes.

TC: Has your public position changed you personally?

JM: I think the two greatest personal changes that the position has visited upon me is in the duality of both developing a sort of thick skin to the unnecessary criticism that the position entails, as well as recognizing that a fair degree of empathy and grace go a long way towards an amicable relationship with those we serve, the public.

TC: Has your job changed the way you look at the role of government?

JM: I believe that it has enhanced my respect and admiration for the many communityminded folks who are so giving of their time and talent, whether they are employees, elected officials or appointed officials. It is all of those people, using their collective skill sets, working together in government, to provide the quality and quantity of the numerous services that government provide for their respective citizenry.

Do you know someone who deserves to be profiled in a future edition of New Hampshire Town and City magazine?

If so, please contact the New Hampshire Municipal Association at 603.224-7447 or tfortier@nhmunicipal.org.